ARTIST'S STATEMENT

I am driven to create figurative work by two factors:  the physicality of the subject and the emotional value of the human form.  I am captivated by anatomical structures and the challenges they present as I attempt to convey them in paint.  Skin atop muscle and atop bone, assembled in highly complex forms, textures, and hues, provides an endless source of subject matter that excites me and that I have only begun to explore.

Throughout the painting process, my main concern is the subject's architecture.  Decisions on particular colors, values, and mark making are all made with respect to form and structure.  These primary formal considerations are constant as the piece evolves. At the same time, I am consciously aware of the human form’s capacity to connect directly with viewers – it is inescapable.  I embrace this quality and exploit it, especially when I want a painting to carry a specific narrative.

While I may spend weeks or months to create a thoughtful painting, one that is as much about the subject as it is about the painted surface, I can communicate more impulsive concepts via digital video, which allows for greater spontaneity. The medium lacks the tactility of a painting, but provides the additional elements of time and sound.  As a result, the meaning behind one of my videos can be more explicit.